"the tree is old but it's...Still full of sap..." Ps. 92:14 (NAB)

April 27, 2016

Bonny and I each shared a ~42 year old memory when we looked at the scripture readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 1, 2016). We remember our joy when we heard this spiritual at the baptism of a baby girl. We had been afraid that this girl would not be born alive. The lyrics are based on the second reading for the sixth Sunday (Rev 21:10-14, 22-23):

Yesterday morning, we had each - separately - sat down to look at the lectionary readings for the coming Sunday. We both had the same memory. I was surprised when we talked about it. We had a reminder of a time of hope.

As I read the news this morning and see many reasons to lose hope, I’m reminded that history will end in the City and that all are welcome. You can come from any point on the compass, north, east, west or south and be welcome.

April 21, 2016

The scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 24, 2016) tell us of the beginnings of the Church (Acts 14:21-17), give us hope for the future (Rev 21:1-5), and charge us to live a life of love for one another (Jn 13:34-35). In the second reading, John writes:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."

When we look at the world as it is today we can fall into despair over our attempts to save the environment through political process. We work for the day when the “former heaven and earth” will pass away and be replaced by a “new heaven and earth.”

We express this hope each Sunday when we recite the Nicene Creed which ends with these words:

“...I look forward to the the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen”

We all find hope in looking forward to the resurrection of the dead. Most of us miss the significance of the ending phrase “the life of the world to come.” We can draw strength from this. We look forward to the day when the entire world will be restored.

April 15, 2016

The scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 17, 2016) ask us to grasp two contradictory images at the same time. In the second reading we will hear:

“……. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17)

In the gospel (Jn 10:27-30) we hear that Jesus is the good shepherd.

Jesus proclaimed himself to be a Shepherd then offered himself as a sacrificial lamb, recalling the used of sacrificial lambs when the Israelites escaped from Egypt. Having been sacrificed, He is now “the Lamb …in the center of the throne.”

We have a Shepherd who was once one of us. We get into the dizzying language of paradox. Christ dwells within us. When we act as sheep, He is Shepherding himself.

As we read this, we don’t like being compared to sheep. Yet, like sheep we are sometimes frozen by fear into indecision. We need to hear His voice in order to know where to go. The good news is that He understands our fear: He was once one of us and shared in that fear. He had his own Shepherd for as he said:“…The Father and I are one.” (Jn 27:30)